Tajudeen Adebanjo
The Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU) in Lagos State has appealed to governments to address insecurity.
It noted that despite deployment of security forces to protect citizens, the country is still challenged with threat from criminals.
At its Dawah Workshop to address insecurity, LEMU President Dr. Kamoru Omotosho said governments should adopt new strategies in combating crimes.
Omotosho said: “Nigerians apparently live in fear. The situation is so bad that some of us cannot venture travelling to our villages for fear of being waylaid by criminals.
‘’From the horrendous savagery of Boko Haram to the menace of kidnapping, one-chance, cultism, rape, armed robbery and cruelty of organ harvesters, no place is safe …security agencies do not seem to be winning the war against criminality …despite huge amounts committed… annually.”
A retired military officer and former Special Adviser on Security to the Nasarawa State Government, Brig-Gen Muhammad Ibn Umar Adeka said the Federal Government must go after sponsors of terrorism and bring them to justice .
Adeka noted that if the sponsors of terrorism were prosecuted, terrorists would run out of financial support to procure weapons and vehicles, among other logistics.
He said: “There is a principle of war called interdiction. When you are fighting an enemy, you prevent the enemy from getting… support.
“Now, assuming you are seated here as the leader of this family. Then, a hoodlum or terrorist comes out with a rifle and you kill him, two more come out with two rifles, you kill them also, then, four come out with four rifles and you kill them. What will be your concern? Who is giving them the rifles? This is because you know these misguided youths don’t have money to buy rifles. They don’t know where it is bought.
‘’So, to stop this attack, you have to find out those sponsoring them with either the funds to buy the weapons or the gun dealers themselves. Those are the active sponsors of terrorism. They decide the target to be attacked.”
Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police and Special Adviser on Security to the Oyo State government, Mr Fatai Owoseni said kidnapping was one of the biggest challenges in the country.
Represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olatunji Disu, Owoseni said kidnapping thrives due to unemployment, corruption and low rates of education.
“There is poverty in our land, people are suffering. Some greedy people taught one of the best ways they can make money is by abducting people to obtain a ransom. The number of unemployed people hanging around in joints where alcoholic drinks are sold in the early morning is much,” he said.
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